Specifications

time that way the solar array could be isolated from the wind turbine or vice versa the

wind turbine could then be isolated from the solar array. However this approach was

deemed to complex and time consuming for the specifications of this project and the

use of multiple charge controllers was deemed a suitable and satisfactory solution to

controlling the output of the energy sources.

5.3 Wind Turbine

From the research it was concluded that a horizontal axis wind turbine would best meet

the design specification criteria for this project. All of the factors were taken into account

and an intelligent decision was made as to why it would be best to implement a

horizontal axis wind turbine.

The largest deciding factor came from the cost after looking at potential parts buying a

horizontal axis wind turbine would save a lot more money and since the design did not

call out that the environment that this generator was to be used in would need to

facilitate a vertical axis generator it was decided that the extra expense in a vertical

design was not needed.

The next big factor of choosing what type of turbine to use came from the orientation of

the wind. The vertical axis wind turbine can harness wind coming from any direction but

it was discovered that a horizontal axis wind turbine the size of the one specified in the

design could be easily re-oriented autonomously to adapt to a change in wind direction.

This could be facilitated with the use of pivots and slip rings around the base of the

turbine to allow for rotation and a wind foil located on the aft of the turbine to catch the

changing wind direction. All of these modifications combined would allow the turbine to

move and rotate with the wind to always allow the horizontal axis wind turbine to be

oriented perpendicular to the wind.

Next it was decided where best to deploy such a generator, since the design resources

specified Waseda University in Shinjuku-ku, Japan it was determined what the average

wind resources were in that location of the world and if at a later date other locations

were chosen the following data could be used as a base point in making that decision.

With an average wind speed of 10 miles per hour a sufficient generator would be

needed that could run on a 10 mile per hour wind speed.

Many potential turbines were looked at and compared and the following data can be

seen in the table below with various specifications from said potential turbines.